Electric phonograph structure



May 21, 1963 w, R. HAWKINS 3,090,661

ELECTRIC PHONOGRAPH STRUCTURE Filed Nov. 14, 1960 FI/Gv .L

IHIIII Fg da JNVENToR. WLan/w H. HAWK/N5 rroe/VE ys- United States Patent O 3,096,661 ELECTRIC PHONOGRAPH STRUCTURE William R. Hawkins, Panorama City, Calif., assignor to Newcomb Electronics Corp., Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of California Filed Nov. 14, 1960, Ser. No. 68,796 3 Claims. (Cl. 312,-8)

This invention relates to electric phonographs. Such phonographs necessarily include amplifier tubes, -transisv tors, transformers, and the like. These component elements, with the associated circuitry, are usually enclosed in a cabinet. It is often necessary Ito remove and replace such components. Yet such removal yor replacement often involves the removal of a wall of the cabinet. Furthermore, these components consume electrical energy, thereby generating heat. It is therefore essential to provide ventilation to dissipate the heat.

It is one of the objects of this invention to facilitate access to these components, as well as to facilitate the dissipation of heat therefrom.

In order to accomplish these results, one or more separate compartments are provided, with a readily removable panel or screen, which house the components.

This invention possesses many other advantages, and has other objects which may be made more clearly apparent from a consideration of one embodiment of the invention. For this purpose, there is shown a form in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the present specication. This form will now be described in detail, illustratng the general principles of Ithe invention; but it is to be understood that this detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, since the scope of the invention is best dened by the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings:

FIGURE l is a plan View of a phonograph structure incorporating the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged end view thereof, partly broken away;

FIG. 3 is a further enlarged fragmentary `sectional view, taken along a plane indicated by line 3 3 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is ya. still further enlarged fragmentary sectional view, taken along a plane indicated byline 4--4 of FIG. 3.

'Ihe cabinet for the phonograph structure includes a bottom wall 1 and side Walls 2 and 3. One end wall 4 may be made in any convenient manner. The other end wall structure will be hereinafter described and includes the impor-tant features of the invention.

The bottom wall 1 is provided with a plurality of legs 5.

These walls 1, 2 and 3 can be made of solid material, such as wood or plastic.

The cover member or top 6 is formed of sheet metal having downwardly extending panels telescopng Within the walls 2, 3 and 4, as shown most clearly lin FIGS. 2 and 4. Appropriate fastening means may be provided between -the top 6 and the Wall structures 2, 3 and 4.

The top surface of the member 6 supports the usual turntable 7 with its appurtenances, including a Itone arm 8 and its rest 9.

The interior of the cabinet serves to support the wiring for -the electric phonograph, as well as Ithe components employed in connection with the phonograph, such as tubes, transformers, etc.

Control knobs 10, 11, 12 and 13 of usual type are shown as projecting through the top 6. Switches 14 and 15 and sockets 16 for plugs may also be provided on the fron-t panel 20 of the top or cover 6.

-In order to define a recess readily accessible from the exterior for accommodating components of the electrical system, use is made of a sheet metal partition or wall 17 having a horizontal portion and a vertical portion 17a atice tached, as by the aid of a ange 18, to the bottom wall 1. Bolts 19 can be utilized for this purpose.

'I'he right-hand edge of the wall means 17 extends outwardly to be aligned with the vertical flange or panel 20 of the top or cover 6.

The recess 21 formed by the wall means 17 serves to house the necessary electrical components of the phonograph, such as tubes 22 and transformers 23 and 24. All of these components are readily accessible from the right-hand side of the instrument, as viewed in FIG. l, by providing a readily detachable cover or Wall for the recess 21. Appropriate lsockets or bases, such as 25, may be supported on the Wall means 17 for attachment of the corresponding tube element 22. The transformers 23 and 24 may be attached by the aid of screws or bolts 26, readily available from the opening of the recess.

In order to close the recess and yet provide ventilation for the components, use is made of a `sheet metal screen 27, which is perforated to provide a plurality of closely spaced openings 28.

The lower edge of this member 27 is received in a relatively wide groove 29 formed in bottom Wall 1 and adjacent the opening of the recess 21. Furthermore, the member 27 has a pair of side flanges 30 that lit between the walls 2 and 3. These yside iianges provide appropriate stiifening for the wall structure or screen 27 The wall structure 27 is provided with a horizontal flange 31 that projects toward the forward end of the cabinet, and is adapted Ito be disposed beneath the ange 32 provided in the lower end of the panel 20. Furthermore, appropriate means may be provided for supplementing the thickness of the horizontal liange 31, as by the aid of a U-shaped member 33. The two legs of this 'U-shaped member 33 embrace the flange 31. The lower leg is provided at 4two spaced points with bosses 34 appropriately threaded for the reception of screws 35, which extend through the flange 32, member 33, and the ange 31.

Embracing the ange 32 and member 33 is another U- shaped trim piece 36, which effectively conceals these elements. The screws 35 extend -through the upper leg of this trim piece 36.

For removal of the wall 27, it is necessary merely to unscrew the machine screws 35. Then the trim piece 36 can be removed; and Wall means 27 can be moved forwardly, as shown in phantom lines in FIG. 3, causing disengagement of the lower edge of the apertured wall member or screen 27 from Ithe groove 29. Then it is a simple matter appropriately to manipulate the circuit components 22, 23, etc. After these circuit components have been removed and replaced, the screen wall 27 and trim piece 36 may be replaced and the screws 35 reattached.

The inventor claims:

1. In a phonograph structure including electric components: a cabinet; a wall for partitioning the interior of the cabinet, into a front recess and a rear space; means in said recess for supporting said components; a removable apertured Wall adapted to cover the recess, said wall having an edge adapted to engage a groove formed in the cabinet adjacent the opening of the recess; said wall having flanges at opposite sides of the wall and directed inwardly of the recess; said wall having a longitudinal flange at the edge opposite the edge that engages the groove, said ange being directed outwardly of the recess; said cabinet having a portion that overlies said longitudinal flange; a trim strip extending lengthwise of said ange; and means fastening the trim strip to the overlying portion of the cabinet.

2. The combination as set forth in claim 1, in which the trim strip is of U-shaped cross-section, the legs of the U being respectively disposed over the ange and the overlying portion.

3. In a phonograph structure including electric components: an open ended cabinet; wall means Within the cabinet for defining a recess that opens at the open end of the cabinet; means in said recess for supporting said electric Components; a removable apertnred wall "for covering said open end, said -Wall having an edge engaging a groove formed in Vthe'sza'liainet adjacent the open end; said wall having a longitudinal outwardly extending flange at an edge opposite the edge that engages the groove; said cabinet having a portion that overlies and parallels said longitudinal flange; said overlying portion being a at strip, a trim strip extending lengthwise of said flange; said trim strip being of U-shaped cross-section, and having 'parallel legs, the ange and 'the overlying portion being disposed between the legs of the U; and means fastening the trim strip to 'the overlying portion 'of the cabinet.

References Cited inthe le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,268,064 Johnson May 28, 1918 1,644,670 Edison Oot. "11, 1927 1,944,687 Henderson Jan. 23, 1934 2,411,528 Dodington Nov. 26, 1946 2,629,764 Wiley Feb. 24, 1953 

3. IN A PHONOGRAPHED STRUCTURE INCLUDING ELECTRIC COMPONENTS: AN OPEN ENDED CABINET; WALL MEANS WITHIN THE CABINET FOR DEFINING A RECESS THAT OPENS AT THE OPEN END OF THE CABINET; MEANS IN SAID RECESS FOR SUPPORTING SAID ELECTRIC COMPONENTS; A REMOVABLE APERTURED WALL FOR COVERING SAID OPEN END, SAID WALL HAVING AN EDGE ENGAGING A GROOVE FORMED IN THE CABINET ADJACENT THE OPEN END; SAID WALL HAVING A LONGITUDINAL OUTWARDLY EXTENDING FLANGE AT AN EDGE OPPOSITE THE EDGE THAT ENGAGES THE GROOVE; SAID CABINET HAVING A PORTION THAT OVERLIES AND PARALLELS SAID LONGITUDINAL FLANGE; SAID OVERLYING PORTION BEING A FLAT STRIP, A TRIM STRIP EXTENDING LENGTHWISE OF SAID FLANGE; SAID TRIM STRIP BEING U-SHAPED CROSS-SECTION, AND HAVING PARALLEL LEGS, THE FLANGE AND THE OVERLYING PORTION BEING DISPOSED BETWEEN THE LEGS OF THE U; AND MEANS FASTENING THE TRIM STRIP TO THE OVERLYING PORTION OF THE CABINET. 